Assistant Lecturer

Professor Emeritus

Henry R. Bauer IIIJohn Rowland

Lecturer Emeritus

Jeri R. Hanly

Computer Science

Over the past 50 years computers have developed from a novelty with a few technical numerical applications to a ubiquitous tool, essential to science and technology, to business and finance, to government, to communications, and even to entertainment. Computer Science has grown from a specialization in mathematics or business or electrical engineering to an independent, broadly based area of study covering all aspects of the use and understanding of computers and the computation process.

Computer Science education concentrates on the creation and understanding of computer software. The curriculum focuses first on programming and then on the central processes that support programming: operating systems, programming languages, and computational theory. The program of study culminates with a senior design project that produces a working program for a real world problem.

Computers and Business Concentration

An understanding of business fundamentals is essential for students planning a career in applied computer science in a business environment. This program of study provides a foundation in computer science, business and information management. It includes courses in accounting, management, marketing, database fundamentals, and design and implementation of software systems. The curriculum leads to the Bachelor of Science in Computer Science degree. It is highly recommended that students declare a Business minor, since they will meet all the requirements without any additional courses.

International Engineering Concentration

Computer Science is a global profession, and today's computer scientists must be able to work and interact in a variety of diverse cultural and technical environments. The international engineering concentration gives computer science students an opportunity to study culture and foreign language at the same time as they pursue their computer science degrees.

The concentration includes at least one semester of study abroad with courses taken in a foreign language. In addition, students may participate in a four-to-five month international internship. Foreign language skills can be earned through a variety of means, including formal university coursework, intensive summer language programs, and previous education.

Foreign language education and the study-abroad experience satisfy the cultural context requirements of the University Studies Program. The curriculum leads to the Bachelor of Science in Computer Science degree.

Program Objectives

The following are the measurable objectives for graduated computer science students (Standard I-1):

OB2: Have effectively communicated within and outside the discipline and work effectively with others.

OB3: Have extended their knowledge by independent learning and continuing education.

OB4: Appreciate the role of computer science in the societal context and appreciate the importance of ethics in the practice of the profession.

Program Learning Outcomes

The program of study in Computer Science enables students to achieve, by the time of graduation:

(a) An ability to apply knowledge of computing and mathematics appropriate to the discipline;

(b) An ability to analyze a problem, and identify and define the computing requirements appropriate to its solution;

(c) An ability to design, implement and evaluate a computer-based system, process, component, or program to meet desired needs;

(d) An ability to function effectively on teams to accomplish a common goal;

(e) An understanding of professional, ethical, legal, security, and social issues and responsibilities;

(f) An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences;

(g) An ability to analyze the local and global impact of computing on individuals, organizations and society;

(h) Recognition of the need for, and an ability to engage in, continuing professional development;

(i) An ability to use current techniques, skills, and tools necessary for computing practices.

(j) An ability to apply mathematical foundations, algorithmic principles, and computer science theory in the modeling and design of computer-based systems in a way that demonstrates comprehension of the tradeoffs involved in design choices;

(k) An ability to apply design and development principles in the construction of software systems of varying complexity.

Computer Science Undergraduate Major

The computer science requirements are subject to minor program changes. The published curricula are general guides. Students should consult the department Web pages (www.cs.uwyo.edu) for current information.

The science requirement consists first of two tightly related lab sciences chosen from the following pairs: PHYS 1210 and 1220, or 1310 and 1320, or LIFE 1010 and 2022 or 2023, or CHEM 1020 and 1030 or CHEM 1050 and CHEM 1060; two additional courses from among ASTR 2310, EE 2390, and any four-credit lab science, for the science major, which meets the USP S, SB, SP, or SE requirement excluding LIFE 1002 and CHEM 1000.

The foreign language requirement is two semesters of a single foreign language (or one semester at the 2nd or 3rd-semester level), or satisfactory score on one of the following; Departmental Examination, College Level Examination Program, Advanced Placement Examination. Refer to the languages department sections in this bulletin for detailed information.

Additional requirements: 6 upper-division hours in non COSC courses (UDNC). All COSC, MATH, and STAT courses must have a grade of C or better. The student's program must fulfill the university requirement of 48 semester credit hours in upper division (junior/senior or graduate-level) courses.

Suggested B.S. Program in Computer Science

Course Sequence of Major Requirements

Students are free to satisfy program requirements in any order that complies with course prerequisites.

Freshman Year: Fall

Hours

ES 1000

1

COSC 1010

4

MATH 2200

4

ENGL 1010

3

Science I

4

Freshman Year: Spring

Hours

COSC 1030

4

MATH 2205

4

Science II

4

COJO 1010

3

PEAC 1001

1

Sophomore Year: Fall

Hours

COSC 2030

4

COSC 2150

3

COSC 2300

3

Foreign Language I

4

USP Cultural Context

3

Sophomore Year: Spring

Hours

COSC 3011

3

COSC 3020

4

Math Elective

3

Foreign Language II

4

USP Cultural Context

3

Junior Year: Fall

Hours

COSC 3015

3

Operating Systems Course

4

COSC Elective

3

Science Elective

4

USP V Course

3

Junior Year: Spring

Hours

COSC Elective

3

COSC 3050

1

Science Elective

4

Math Elective

3

USP Cultural Context

3

Senior Year: Fall

Hours

COSC 4950

1

Systems Course

3

STAT Course

3

Theory Course

3

ENGL 4010

3

Upper Division non-COSC (UDNC)

3

Senior Year: Spring

Hours

COSC 4955

2

COSC Electives

6

Programming Language Course

3

UDNC

3

Computer Science Computers and Business Concentration Undergraduate Major

The computers and business concentration requirements are subject to minor program changes. The published curricula are general guides. Students should consult the department Web pages (http://www.cs.uwyo.edu/) for current information.

The science requirement consists first of two tightly related lab sciences chosen from the following pairs: PHYS 1210 and 1220, or 1310 and 1320, or LIFE 1010 and 2022 or 2023, or CHEM 1020 and 1030 or CHEM 1050 and 1060; two additional courses from among ASTR 2310, EE 2390, and any four-credit lab science, for the science major, which meets the USP S, SB, SP, or SE requirement, excluding LIFE 1002 and CHEM 1000.

The mathematics requirement is MATH 2200 or 2350 and 2205 or 2355, STAT 2010, 2050, or 2070.

The business requirement is ACCT 1010, ACCT 1020, MGT 1040, MGT 3110, MGT 3210, MKT 3210, FIN 3250 and three semester hours of business courses at the 3000+ level that are not fulfilling another requirement.

Additional requirements: 3 upper-division semester hours in a non COSC course (UDNC). All COSC, MATH, Business and STAT courses must have a grade of C or better. The student's program must fulfill the university requirement of 48 semester credit hours in upper division (junior/senior) or graduate-level courses.

It is highly recommended that students declare a Business minor, since they will meet all the requirements without any additional courses. If you are planning on attending graduate school, then you should take COSC 4740 for the operating systems course and COSC 4100 and COSC 4780 for the two computer science electives.

Suggested B.S. Program in Computer Science Computers and Business Concentration

Course Sequence of Major Requirements

Students are free to satisfy program requirements in any order that complies with course prerequisites.

Freshman Year: Fall

Hours

ES 1000

1

COSC 1010

4

MATH 2200

4

Science I

4

ENGL 1010

3

Freshman Year: Spring

Hours

COSC 1030

4

MATH 2205

4

Science II

4

COJO 1010

3

PEAC 1001

1

Sophomore Year: Fall

Hours

COSC 2030

4

COSC 2150

3

ACCT 1010

3

COSC 2300

3

USP Cultural Context

3

Sophomore Year: Spring

Hours

COSC 3011

3

MGT 1040

3

USP Cultural Context

3

ACCT 1020

3

COSC 3020

4

Junior Year: Fall

Hours

MGT 2110

3

STAT 2050

4

Science Elective

4

USP V Course

3

COSC Operating Systems Course

3-4

Junior Year: Spring

Hours

FIN 3250

3

Science Elective

4

COSC 4820

3

COSC 3050

1

MGT 3210

3

Senior Year: Fall

Hours

COSC 4950

1

COSC 4210

3

COSC Elective

3

Business Elective

3

ENGL 4010

3

MKT 3210

3

Senior Year: Spring

Hours

COSC 4955

2

COSC 4220

3

USP Cultural Context

3

COSC Elective

3

UDNC

3

Computer Science International Engineering Concentration

Computer science international engineering concentration requirements are subject to minor program changes. The published curricula are general guides. Students should consult the department office Web pages (http://www.cs.uwyo.edu/) for current information.

The science requirement consists first of two tightly related lab sciences, chosen from the following pairs: PHYS 1210 and 1220, or 1310 and 1320, or LIFE 1010 and 2022 or 2023, or CHEM 1020 and 1030 or CHEM 1050 and 1060; two additional courses from among ASTR 2310, EE 2390, and any four-credit lab science, for the science major, which meets the USP S, SB, SP, or SE requirement excluding LIFE 1002 and CHEM 1000.

The foreign language requirement is four semesters of a single foreign language and one semester of study abroad. Foreign language skills can be earned through a variety of means, including formal university coursework, intensive summer language programs, and previous education.

In addition to the courses listed above, students must choose courses that complete satisfaction of the following University Studies Program requirements: Writing 1 (WA), Writing 2 (WB), Writing 3 (WC), oral communications (O), U.S. and Wyoming Constitutions requirement (V), Information Literacy (L), Intellectual Community (I) and Physical Activity (P).

Additional requirements: six upper-division hours in non COSC courses (UDNC). All COSC, MATH, and STAT courses must have a grade of C or better. The student's program must fulfill the university requirement of 48 semester credit hours in upper division (junior/senior) or graduate-level courses.

Suggested B.S. Program in Computer Science International Engineering Concentration

Course Sequence of Major Requirements

Students are free to satisfy program requirements in any order that complies with course prerequisites.

Freshman Year; Fall

Hours

ES 1000

1

COSC 1010

4

MATH 2200

4

Foreign Language I

4

ENGL 1010

3

Freshman Year: Spring

Hours

COSC 1030

4

MATH 2205

4

Foreign Language II

4

COJO 1010

3

PEAC 1001

1

Sophomore Year: Fall

Hours

COSC 2150

3

COSC 2030

4

COSC 2300

3

Foreign Language III

4

Science I

3

Sophomore Year: Spring

Hours

COSC 3011

3

COSC 3020

4

MATH Elective

3

Foreign Language IV

3

Science II

4

Junior Year: Fall

Hours

COSC 3015

3

Operating Systems Course

4

COSC Elective

4

USP V Course

3

Junior Year: Spring (Study Abroad)

Hours

COSC Elective

4

Science Elective

4

MATH Elective

3

UDNC

3

Senior Year: Fall

Hours

COSC 4950

1

System Course

3

Stat Course

3

Theory Course

3

ENGL 4010

3

UDNC

3

Senior Year: Spring

Hours

COSC 4955

2

COSC 3050

3

COSC Electives

6

Programming Language Course

3

Computer Science Minor Requirements

Requirements for a minor in Computer Science are as follows:

A total of 18 credits of computer science courses of which 9 credits must be upper-division.

All 18 credits must have a grade of C or better.

At least 12 of the credits must not be counted simultaneously for a major.

Graduate Study

The Department of Computer Science offers graduate work leading to the master of science degree in computer science and the doctor of philosophy in computer science.

Program Specific Admission Requirement

Applicants must meet the minimum standards of the university.

Acceptance will be based on the student's academic records.

High performing undergraduates in computer science can elect for Quick Start admission to the graduate program, allowing the sharing of up to six credit hours of 5000-level coursework toward the completion of both the B.S. and the graduate degree programs.

For the master's degree and the Ph.D. program, the following courses or their equivalent are considered preparatory for graduate work in computer science: COSC 3020, COSC 4100 or 4200, COSC 4740, and COSC 4780 or 4785. Students admitted to the program must show proficiency in these courses.

An applicant whose previous studies are in a field significantly removed from computer science may be admitted to the regular master's degree or the Ph.D. program on the condition that he or she take additional courses to remove deficiencies in his or her computer science background.

Admission to the master's degree program or the conferring of a master's degree will not constitute a de facto admission to the Ph.D. program.

Program Specific Degree Requirements

M.S. Program

Each
M.S. student will have a supervising committee of at least three members
appointed. The committee will consist of at least two members of the computer
science faculty and at least one non-COSC faculty member.

Both
Plan A and Plan B students must complete the CORE REQUIREMENTS and the BREADTH
REQUIREMENTS.

Both
Plan A and Plan B students are required to formally defend (Plan A) or present
(Plan B), their theses or papers, which describe their work, as a public
colloquium before their supervising committees and a public audience. All
defenses and presentations must be open and announced at least two weeks in
advance. The thesis or paper must be
distributed to the committee at least two weeks in advance of the defense or
presentation. If the student does not
pass the defense or presentation, the committee will instruct the student as to
what needs to be accomplished (and by when) to pass.

Upon completion of the requirements for
the Plan A or Plan B M.S. programs, a student enrolling in the Ph.D. program
also meets the CORE REQUIREMENTS and the BREADTH REQUIREMENTS for the Ph.D.
program. The Ph.D. oral qualifying exam
may also be waived at the discretion of the student's Ph.D. supervising committee. Courses completed
towards the M.S. degree may be counted towards the Ph.D. course requirements.

Plan
A (thesis)

A total of at least
33 credit hours at the 4000 level or above must be completed. The student must complete a minimum of 29
hours of courses, including the CORE REQUIREMENTS and the BREADTH REQUIREMENTS,
and a minimum of 4 hours of COSC 5960 (Thesis Research). At least 20 credit hours must consist of
computer science department courses. At
least 15 credit hours must be at the 5000 level, not including seminars, COSC
5050, Independent Study, and Research.
No more than 6 hours of 4000-level computer science coursework may be
counted toward the total credit requirement. Coursework from other departments
may count towards degree requirements with the approval of the supervising M.S.
committee.

Plan
B (non-thesis)

A total of at least
33 credit hours at the 4000 level or above must be completed. The student must complete a minimum of 32
hours of courses, including the CORE REQUIREMENTS and the BREADTH REQUIREMENTS,
and a minimum of 1 hour of COSC 5960 (Thesis Research). At least 20 hours must consist of computer
science department courses. At least 15 credit hours must be at the 5000 level,
not including seminars, COSC 5050, Independent Study, and Research. No more than 6 hours of 4000-level computer
science coursework may be counted toward the total credit requirement.
Coursework from other departments may count towards degree requirements with
the approval of the supervising M.S. committee.

UW
Coursework Requirements for M.S. Transfer Students: M.S. transfer
students must complete at least 21 credit hours at the University of
Wyoming. At least 12 credits of the CORE & BREADTH
REQUIREMENTS must be taken at the University of Wyoming. No more than one class per category of breadth
may be counted towards this 12-credit total. The research writing course and
algorithms course credits may be counted toward this 12-credit total. Seminar credits may not be counted toward
this 12-credit total.

Summary of Credit Requirements

Plan A

Plan B

PhD

Core: COSC 5110 and 5050

6

6

6

Core: COSC 5000 seminar

2

2

4

Breadth: theory course, AI course, two systems courses

12

12

12

Additional courses

9

12

20

Thesis/Dissertation (COSC 5960/5980)

4

1

12

Other credits (may include courses or COSC 5960/5980)

0

0

18

Total

33

33

72

Ph.D. Program

Each
doctoral student will have a supervising committee of at least five members
appointed. The primary functions of this committee are to suggest coursework,
to administer the qualifying, preliminary, and final examinations, and to
oversee and evaluate the research of the candidate. The committee will consist
of at least three members of the computer science department faculty and at
least one non-COSC faculty member. The standards that this committee should
consider when recommending programs of study are outlined in the following
sections.

Coursework Requirements: A total of at
least 72 credit hours at the 4000-level or above
must be completed. A minimum of 42 of
these credit hours must be taken as coursework, including the CORE REQUIREMENTS
and the BREADTH REQUIREMENTS. A minimum
of 12 hours of COSC 5980 (Dissertation Research) must be taken. No more than 6
hours of 4000-level computer science coursework and no more than 12 hours total
of 4000-level coursework, may be counted toward the total credit
requirement. Coursework from other
departments may count towards degree requirements with the approval of the
supervising Ph.D. committee. All course
requirements MUST be completed or enrolled with satisfactory midterm progress
prior to scheduling the Ph.D. Final Examination.

UW
Coursework Requirements for Ph.D. Transfer Students: Ph.D. transfer
students must complete at least 24 credit hours at the University of
Wyoming. At least 12 credits of the CORE & BREADTH
REQUIREMENTS must be taken at the University of Wyoming. No more than one class per category of
breadth may be counted towards this 12-credit total. The research writing
course and algorithms course credits may be counted toward this 12-credit
total. Seminar credits may not be
counted toward this 12-credit total.

Program: A
program of original and innovative research will be undertaken by the
candidate. At the end of this program, the candidate will document this
research in a dissertation. The dissertation will present the details and
results of the candidate's research in addition to providing a critical
comparison with relevant previously-published works.

Each
successful doctoral student must pass three examinations. These include a
qualifying examination, a preliminary examination, and a final (dissertation)
defense.

Qualifying Exam Criteria: The student
must complete the CORE REQUIREMENTS and pass a closed oral examination on a
research area administered by the supervising committee. Although closed to the
public, faculty members of the Department of Computer Science are welcome to
attend. The exam must be announced to
the faculty at least two weeks in advance.
The research area will be chosen in consultation with the committee. The
student must demonstrate background knowledge of the state of the art in the
area and preliminary work. This will involve, but is not limited to, presenting
material and answering questions covering the relevant area knowledge. The
format of the exam will be defined by the committee prior to the exam to allow
for sufficient preparation. This examination is intended to motivate the
candidate to review relevant literature extensively prior to pursuing the
original and innovative portions of the research. Qualifying exam criteria must
be completed within the first 4 semesters of enrollment in the Ph.D program. If
the student does not pass the qualifying exam, the committee will instruct the
student as to what needs to be accomplished (and by when) to pass. The closed oral examination requirement may
be waived for a student who has completed an M.S. degree in COSC at UW if their
M.S. presentation was at a research level that demonstrated background
knowledge of the state of the art in the area, at the discretion of the
supervising Ph.D. committee.

Preliminary Exam Criteria: Prior
to scheduling the Preliminary Examination, the student must be making
satisfactory progress towards completion of their course requirements,
including the BREADTH REQUIREMENTS. A Preliminary Examination will consist of a
presentation and defense of the already-completed portion of the dissertation
research and the research that is proposed to complete the dissertation. The
Preliminary Examination must be open and announced at least two weeks in
advance. The preliminary examination must be completed within 8 semesters of
enrollment in the Ph.D program. This examination is intended to motivate the
candidate to make significant progress on work towards their Ph.D. dissertation
and propose milestones for completion. If the nature of the proposed continued research and
methodology is deemed to be sufficiently original and innovative by the
supervising committee, then the committee will approve the research direction
after having administered this examination. If the student does not pass
the preliminary exam, the committee will instruct the student as to what needs
to be accomplished (and by when) to pass.

Option for M.S. degree en route to Ph.D.: After completing the Qualifying Exam and
Preliminary Exam, a Ph.D. student may additionally earn an M.S. degree after
completing the remaining M.S. course requirements, including the BREADTH
REQUIREMENTS. COSC 5980 may be
substituted for COSC 5960 in the M.S. requirements at the discretion of the
supervising committee. The M.S. degree will be granted only after completion of
the preliminary exam. For an M.S. degree
to be granted prior to completion of the preliminary exam, the student should
enroll in the M.S. degree program and complete the remaining M.S. requirements.

Final Exam Criteria:
Prior to scheduling the Ph.D. Final Examination (often referred to as a
“defense”), all course requirements, including the BREADTH REQUIREMENTS, MUST
be completed or enrolled with satisfactory midterm progress.The Final
Examination (dissertation defense) will consist of an oral presentation by the
candidate of his/her research and the results that were derived. At this
examination, the candidate is expected to defend the research as being original
and contributory to the discipline of computer science. The Final Examination
must be open and announced at least two weeks in advance. The dissertation must
be distributed to the supervising committee at least two weeks in advance of
the Final Examination. If the student does not pass the final exam, the
committee will instruct the student as to what needs to be accomplished (and by
when) to pass.

Time to degree for part-time students:
Exceptions to the completion deadlines for the Qualifying Exam and Preliminary
Exam may be made for part-time students at the discretion of the supervising
committee.

COMPUTER SCIENCE CORE
REQUIREMENTS

Each of the following must be
completed with a B or better for COSC 5110 (algorithms) and a Satisfactory for
COSC 5050 (research writing) and COSC 5000 (seminars):

COSC 5110 Analysis of Algorithms

COSC 5050 Research Writing for Computer
Science

COSC 5000 Seminars: 2 for M.S. students
and 4 for Ph.D. students

Students
are strongly encouraged to take COSC 5110 the first time it is offered after
enrollment.

COMPUTER SCIENCE
BREADTH REQUIREMENTS

Students must earn a grade of B or better in one class from the Theory
category, one class from the Artificial Intelligence Category, and one class
from each of two different Systems categories (e.g. one class from Programming
Languages and Compilers and one class from Computer Graphics, Visualization,
and Interaction). Although some courses may count under multiple categories, a
course may only count once towards the breadth requirement. Thus there must be
12 credits taken to satisfy the breadth requirement. Only 5000-level computer science courses may count
towards the breadth requirement.

Theory:

COSC 5120 Theory of
Computation

COSC 5200 Computational
Complexity

COSC 5220 Languages and
Automata

COSC 5010/20 Theory topics
courses as offered (must be approved by the department)

For cases in which a graduate student has admitted to an act of
academic dishonesty or has been found culpable through university
procedures according to University Regulation 6-802, the graduate
committee will meet with the student and faculty member(s) involved to
assess the severity of the act. Both the faculty member(s) and the
student will be afforded the opportunity to present views and
information relevant to the act. The graduate committee may then take
action by recommending that the student be terminated from graduate
study in the department (for flagrant violations) or that a letter of
reprimand be sent to the student with a copy sent to the Office of the
Registrar.